Original paint

If my '74 has original black paint, what can I do that would be minimal but might restore a little luster or at least some indication of TLC?

You might start with some automotive paint rubbing compound, you can find it at about any automotive store next to the car wax. Put it on with a waxing pad like you would wax then use another soft cloth to take it off. It will take a small layer of paint off and may help some and is a pretty cheap and simple job.

I suggest Zymol Cleaner/Wax, it works great for exactly your problem. I get mine at Wally-World.

Vince

I suggest starting by cleaning the paint with a gentle automotive finish cleaner, then following with a clay bar with appropriate lubricant. A clay bar is more gentle than polishing compound and will remove grime and dead paint. If the clay bar doesn't achieve the effect you're after, then follow up with a polishing compound. Be advised that polishing compound can wear your paint down to primer if you're too aggressive with it; especially if the paint is old and thin. If the clay bar works, follow it up with any good wax. I like to put down a sealing coat of poly such as Rejex, then a cover coat of a good carnauba. I've gotten excellent results with Mother's California Gold, but there are numerous excellent carnauba's out there.

Thank you all. I'll get to an auto store this weekend & see what I find. Who knows, maybe I'll manage a before & after picture. Maybe.

Just watch that you don't drop the clay bar on a gravel driveway. It will ruin your day.

Meguiars makes a "swirl remover" for paint that works nicely too. They offer an awful lot of choices and keep changing the product names. The one I used contained no wax which can be useful if you need to touchup the paint later.

Yay! Original finish -- what a novel idea!

There's a lot of stuff out there. I use 'Scratch Out" from Wally that puts a good shine on anything including plastic. It will take minor scratches (spider web effect) out of clear coat. There are rougher compounds like 'polishing compound' and 'rubbing compound' that are good to start with if you have scratches, but you have to be careful not to go through the clear coat if it has one or you'll be rubbing the paint off. Try it all in an inconspicuous area first and watch your rag that you don't start rubbing the colour on to your rag. Don't ask how I know.

Dave
69S

batrider said:

Just watch that you don't drop the clay bar on a gravel driveway. It will ruin your day. ...

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Sounds like experience speaking there...